For state Senate: Neil Breslin

Most voters likely will go to the polls this year with one of these thoughts in mind, or perhaps both, especially when it comes to the New York state Senate:
Throw the bums out.
Except mine.
For some voters, it may be that simple. But it’s considerably more complicated in the 46th Senate District, where seven-term incumbent Neil Breslin faces Luke Martland in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

We endorse Mr. Breslin, but we did not arrive at this decision easily.
Mr. Martland, a political newcomer, is a credible challenger with a reasonable grasp of the issues. He offers some ideas to tackle the state’s financial problems, including a freeze on government growth and a top-to-bottom review of government. He is committed to progressive values of equality, choice and reform. He advocates unequivocally for an overhaul of the ethics and campaign finance rules that have let politicians get away with far too much secrecy and self-dealing.

We would have liked to see more depth and detail in his fiscal ideas, particularly in the big-ticket items of health care and education. And we disagree with his position on the death penalty, which he favors for what he calls extreme cases like terrorism.
Still, especially after a term in which the Senate was plagued by chaos and inaction, we should encourage more smart, sensible citizens like Mr. Martland to run for office. Against a lesser opponent, we might see the race differently.

Mr. Breslin, even after 14 years, is not just another incumbent going through the motions. He has had the sometimes unenviable task of having to grapple with what’s good for the state and what’s good for his constituents — many of them state workers. This year, he cast a crucial vote for a budget extender that included state worker furloughs, but also sponsored a resolution opposing them. Though he says it was not his intention, that resolution helped in a successful lawsuit to block the furloughs. We disagreed with his action, but it’s clear he tried to do the best for his constituents while not risking a government shutdown.

Mr. Breslin has taken progressive stands on key issues. He also has fought hard, as arts groups struggle with less government and charitable support, to save some of the region’s cultural institutions — Capital Repertory Theatre, the Albany Symphony Orchestra and the Albany Institute of History and Art. (Full disclosure: George R. Hearst III, Times Union publisher and editorial board member, is president and chairman of the Albany Institute of History and Art board, a member of Cap Rep’s Past Trustee’s Council and a board member of Capital Culture, which supports the three institutions.)

Still, we disagree with Mr. Breslin on a key issue. He opposes disclosure of client names by attorneys who serve in the Legislature, citing the clients’ privacy. We consider that secrecy a major flaw in the state’s ethics rules, one that potentially helps lawmakers hide conflicts of interest.

Mr. Breslin, though, has fought for reform on other fronts. He introduced a bill to require lawmakers who create legal defense funds to disclose any donations publicly. He has called for an independent redistricting commission. And he has bluntly criticized fellow Democrats who have contributed to the political turmoil in the Senate.

In the end, the one issue on which we strongly disagree with Mr. Breslin was not enough to outweigh the good work he has done. If he wins the primary, he will face Republican Robert Domenici. And if he prevails there, we will expect him to use those 14 years of seniority to lead the fight for ethics and campaign finance reform that we can all live with.

Jay Jochnowitz

2 Responses

No matter how well meaning, no State Senator or Assemblyman’s service can be tainted by a conflict of interest he/she creates when they return home to practice the very law they created, turned down or refused to rescind.

Tainted with the possibility of a possible conflict of interest, no attorney should practice (NYS) law while in the NYS Assembly or Senate

I invite Hiscoc & Barclay AKA: former NYS Senator H DOUGLAS BARCLAY and sons, David and NYS Assemblyman William Barclay to release their General Counsul Neil Breslin so he might serve above suspicion of any conflict of interest associated with the firm.

I invite all other law firms including that of AG candidate Eric Schneiderman’s 1900 attorney multi national K & L Gates to release there attorney-partner-employees into General practice.

I invite all attorneys in the NYS Senate and NYS Assembly to sever ties with there law firms and discontinue practicing NYS law while in office.